And we finished off the night playing Connect 4. I love that Brooke feels like she is one of the gang. She loves being at my sister’s house.

Yesterday morning I decided to go to a pump class with Sarah instead of going running. I will be getting my body ready this month to start marathon training (round #2;) in December. Trying to get extra strong and I made it through 1/8th of the 100 pushups that the instructor wanted us to do.

We showed up in the same sweatshirt. Doesn’t get much cooler than that folks.

For lunch I went to my favorite grocery store salad bar and just bought a container of my favorite toppings (the roasted brussel sprouts were amazing) and came home and added my own lettuce and dressing because I am cheap like that (they charge by the lb). It was crazy good.

Later on I went on a nice long walk with my sister and Brooke. I have NO idea how I used to run with the jogging stroller. I couldn’t believe how out of breath I was walking up the hill pushing Brooke… so I made my sister push her up the rest of the way up.

For dinner I had grilled chicken and vegetables and because I had been way too healthy all day I got out the brownie/marshmallow sundae to eat while watching an episode of Revenge before bed. Living the dream;)

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How many pushups can you do in a row? Do you do pushups on your knees or toes?

Who runs with a jogging stroller?!? (We all need to clap for those that do:)

That dessert. Genius. I wish I hadn’t finished the rest of the brownies my friend gave me yesterday because otherwise I would have replicated your concoction. I don’t think I can even do 5 pushups. I usually drop to my knees and do “girl ones” even in yoga when they make us go from high to low plank a million times and my arms feel like they’re going to fall off.

I love running with my BOB too! The biggest stress is that he tends to cry and get bored after about 4 miles so I can sometimes stretch it to 4.5 and the longest I’ve stretched it to is 5.5 miles – the worst is when he is pitching a fit and I’m running and can’t get home. People give me weird looks when I’m pushing a streaming toddler around and they feel the need to point out that he might be cold, etc. I love when I do a run without the stroller and it seems so easy and I can go so fast!

Good luck with the double – that is serious stuff!

Keighty

I think I’m super lazy– which is why I love running with the double stroller. I’d much rather push the stroller and have my water bottles in the console than have to CARRY WATER BOTTLES. Okay, written out, that sounds insane. But seriously– it’s way more comfortable pushing a stroller than wearing a waist band/carrying them in my hand/running with a hydration pack.

Oh my- that brownie marshmallow sundae is making me crave sweets at 6am!
I would definitely rather strength train on my own… I actually prefer doing 99% of activities on my own!
I’ll be the big 3-0 in January!

I can do 20 push ups in a row – strong arms are needed for dancing! I do strength training in a group in dance class. It’s much more fun that way. But sometimes (ie on days when I don’t do any other exercise!) I may do push ups in front of the tv….

When I run I try to go before joe leaves for work for the very reason that I hate pushing the stroller! Agreed, it’s a whole added workout and I don’t even have hills. On the last day of November I will have 26 candles :-) Enjoy your day!

I do try to consistently strength train on my own (at home), but it’s usually just about the lowest thing on my priority list. I tend to become a lot more dedicated when I am trying to recovery from an injury or think I have an injury coming on. ;)

I think I could do about 10 push-up. For some reason my gym has been pushing the push-ups in a bunch of the classes. Maybe they realized that it’s a major weakness for many women. I really like doing strength training classes because it keeps me from wondering around aimlessly and I don’t have to think when someone is telling me what to do.

My upper body strength is ridiculous… I -think- I can do about 5 real push-ups before I collapse as a pile of shaking goo, and maybe around 20 on my knees. So embarrassing lol. And my last birthday cake had 28 candles, but I’m getting close to my next one :D

The most push ups I have done before going to my knees are 30. They are really hard! I took a Personal Training Workshop on Sunday and the teacher was showing us how to vary the tempo of an exercise to make it harder…..Go down slowly (4 seconds), hold for 2, back up in 1. All the big, juiced up guys were even on their knees after 5! HA! I was proud though because I made it as long as they did.

I would definitely rather strength train in a class. I push myself so much harder when people are watching.

I can do exactly 0 real pushups on my toes. I clearly have some serious upper body strength … issues :) I can kick butt at leg strengthening workouts though! I like to do those mostly on my own. My man, who is really into weightlifting, has to be there though to check my form and cheer me on during my max lifts.

I *love* when he says the words “your form sucked on that lift, do it again.” My favorite words …. can you hear the sarcasm?

I’m terrible about strength training on my own, I do about 3 reps and then I’m like, ok that’s good – I’m tired. The only time I really focused on any strength training was when my gym gave me a few free sessions with a trainer. They’re so good at motivating!

We go all out for birthdays as well! So much fun! I can do about 25 push-ups with out my knees and then as many as my arms let me do on my knees. I would rather strength train, but I do P90X, so that kinda feels like a class :). I had 23 on my last cake!

I do push ups on my knees. If I don’t have many to do ill do them on my toes, but I’m a baby with those :) I don’t know how people run with jogging strollers! I see this one lady in the park running with a double running stroller every day. I don’t know how she does it! 23 on my last cake :) cookie cake actually… Love that! Love that Curly wanted brownies :) my husband wants a pumpkin roll for his birthday every year!

I wish I had a jogging stroller! Unfortunately, $$$ (but I have it at the top of my Christmas wish-list!)

What kind of workouts are you doing in preparation for the next round of marathon training? I know I should be doing something other than just running. Are you working on flexibility/strength before ramping up the running workouts?

I can do like 8 or 9 on my toes then I gotta go to my knees. I just started that this summer, before then I could only do like 2 lol. I’m sooo with Curly! I would rather have brownies over cake any day! Most days I would rather strength train on my own cause I tend to use more weight than in class. But some days I need someone to yell at me :)

My birthday is today and there should be 28 candles on my cake but that seems like a fire hazard! I don’t know how many push-ups I can do in a row but I’m guessing its not many. I’ve got zero upper body strength :(

Mia

I love strength training on my own!! And a year ago when I decided to do push-ups (I just don’t care for them ahaha) I was able to do 20 in a row. I would make brownie cupcakes, and 21 candles was on mine :).

I prefer strength training in a class because I am forced to do it for a hour. HOWEVER, I am looking forward to starting to weight lift with my husband soon and I cannot wait to learn more about the weight lifting floor!

Laura

I took my daughter on a 9 mile run with me that was a lot of uphill. Was pushing her in the stroller (she’s 4) and it was brutal! The worst part was because of all the uphills I got blisters on my thumbs from gripping the stroller.

I’ve run with my twins in their jogging stroller since they were 6 weeks old. We all love it..it gives me a good workout and we all get out in the fresh air! Plus we stop at the park on the way home so that’s a bonus for them. Oh except in the winter when Utah is a frozen tundra…then you find you won’t find us out there!

Amanda

I played lacrosse in high school and our coach was super into fitness. Before every practice, we did sit-ups, push-ups, and dips. So every day since then I have done a set in the morning and a set in the evening. For 19 years! (that would make my # of candles = 35!).

Not sure how many push-ups I could do before complete exhaustion but my sets are 16 push-ups (on toes), 26 dips, and 4 sets of 12 sit-ups (all different positions).’

I hope I’m still allowed to read your posts even though I am the eldest so far of the commenters. You all make me feel younger :)

Yum that sundae looks amazing! I have no idea how hard it is to push a jogging stroller (hello, never been pregnant/had a baby) but I’m always amazed by those women who can run half marathons or more with them! Wonder women!

Marissa

I could probably do about 25 in a row on my toes, probably more on my knees. I used to run with a double jogging stroller, actually that’s when I first started to run so I didn’t know any better. Whew, I don’t miss that at all. I would much rather do strength in a class or with other people. 31 candles on my last cake. Eek, 31 days until 32 candles!

Nicole

I had to drop to the floor to see how many I could do, and I made it to 12…I need to hit up the body weight exercises more haha. I prefer strength training on my own :) That way I can do how much I want without the BP instructor threatening me. 19 candles on my last cake! That salad and sundae both look sooo good.

I’m trying really hard to work strength training into my routine. I pretty much just made up my own circuits based off what I knew how to do, but I think I’ll try a class soon to see how that is. I’ll have to get down on the ground and see how many I can do and report back later – can’t do it now at work!

Our runs are on the beach with the BOB. The ocean winds are pretty intense in Washington, too. The runs make me miss (at times) simple trail runs with no BOB. Time with our daughter, though, is worth every bit of “man, this is tough! Would those winds just go somewhere else?” thoughts.

Of course, I always smile when we let her out to chase the sea gulls. I remember her birth and first 8 months in Utah, as I seek to find ways to incorporate those times so she has the connections.

I’m not very good at push ups, but I do run with a BOB! lol
I was at a 9k stroller running race (9k, because it was for a charity for battered pregnant women) and this beast runner pushed her BOB so fast, it was incredible!!

I really hate push ups and so I do my planks and count them as push ups. It counts, it really does.
No jogging stroller, my baby is all grown up.
And, no candles on my cake or brownies, my husband puts reeses on there and I like him to use the entire bag of reeses minis because I love my chocolate that much.

I run with my BOB for all my during the week runs. 3-5 miles is my limit. So on Mondays when my hubby is home, I alternate between speed work and 10 miles. Works out, and she enjoys it. 3-5 miles is her limit too!

I would probably rather do a class, even tho I never have and I’d probably look ridiculous.

I think I can do about 20-25 pushups in a row. I do them the standard way, no knees! I also have to go all the way down, otherwise I get yelled at, haha! The other day I did an arm workout with my friend – and it involved 3 rounds of various types of arm drills including walking push-ups and incline pushups, along with various other forms of arm torture. I think the final count of push-ups I did in a 30 minute period was over 125 – my arms were burning for the rest of the weekend! But, gotta work on those guns ;-)

I do all my strength training with my boy track coach friend on Thursdays before we coach. We push each other and honestly it is more fun to work out with a friend than alone.

I own a jogging stroller, but I rarely run with Max anymore. He is just too heavy!

Megan D

I watched Revenge last night too after I put my kids to bed. I friggin wish I was eating that bowl of delicousness with it like you! Yum!

Depends on my mood. Some days I need other people with me to make me do strength. Other days I love being able to choose what I am doing and really push myself. Pushups on the toes…well, until about 15 and then I have to drop to the knees. lol.

And pushing a stroller up that mountain to your parents house. Ya. I wouldn’t be able to do that either!

The pic of your niece thinking up all her wishes is adorable. Oh to be a kid again. Hope you have a great day girl!

Hmmm…maybe 20. Push-ups are ok, but now my coach has us doing body curls. We have a few original members of Mammoth Track Club with us right now, who are both Olympians (Anna Willard and Morgan Uceny). I watched them do body curls last night and said…”welll….I can do 1/4th of that”

And, I didn’t have candles since I made homemade vegan vanilla ice cream with kahlua on top :)

I can do… drumroll…. ZERO pushups! … boo!
I have bicep tendonitis & my arms are junk… I try though. I can actually do them on the ball – which isn’t a ‘real’ push up… but its something.
Look at Brooke with the big kids! Blows my mind!

Laura

I run with my 2 yr old in the jogger stroller about 2-3 times per week. I definitely think it makes me a stronger runner. I can totally tell when I’ve taken a break from it for any length of time, it is like 1000x harder when I go back to it!!

I really prefer strength training in a class cause I feel like the instructor pushes me to do more than I would on my own. Unfortunately I don’t belong to a gym right now so I’m left to do it on my own at home.

Christine

That dessert looks so yummy! I can’t do many push-ups right now. I had surgery on my wrist earlier this year and I’m trying to learn to do push ups on my knuckles to keep my wrists straight.
It’s been a while since I took my kiddos with me running. They’re 5 & 3 so the combined weight of the two is a bit much. Nothing like pushing 70+ lbs while running! But man you feel so light and speedy the next time you run without a stroller!
I would rather do a class than on my own. I mostly do on my own, but I love the atmosphere of a class as well as not having to be the one to come up with the plan of what I am doing.
I had 31 candles on top of my oreo cookie ice cream cake.

I can do probably 10 pushups MAX on my knees. I’m such a wimp! I really need motivation when I’m strength training, so a class would probably do me good. I’m too intimidated to try one, though, because I’d be lifting like 5 lbs.
Last birthday cake – 23 candles!

Sarah G.

I am very proud to say I can do 30 “boy” pushups in a row. I strength train in a bootcamp style class and love it. However, I would probably prefer to train alone if I knew enough of what I was doing to motivate and instruct myself (which I don’t).

Last birthday cake (a sugar pizookie with sugar/cream cheese frosting and fresh cut fruit on top which my mom makes me EVERY year… it is ok to be jealous) had 26 candles on it. :)

Push ups are tough for me, thanks to bad shoulders and a bad wrist. I could probably do 10 not stopping, but could re-group and do 10 more right after, lol.
I like to strength train with people to learn it, then do it at my own pace by myself :)
If I would have had a cake for my birthday, there would have been 27 candles on it!

I can do about 20 push ups maybe more on my toes, I haven’t counted lately. I think I would enjoy a strength training class, but I don’t belong to a gym :(. There would have been 34 candles on my last birthday cake if I had had one, but I settled for a slice of cheese cake from the Cheese Cake Factory instead!!!

sarah

i do i do! run with a double jogger, that is. I probably do 15 miles a week with it. I try to avoid the long run with it if possible… especially because I live in colorado- high up and hilly. however I have taken 2 minutes off per mile when I run without it, so 3 cheers for the stroller! hip hip hooray! I am still not even kinda as fast as you, but I’ll take any improvement. have a great week!

Oh my gosh, that sunday looks to DIE for! And it was probably so hard because Brooke is so much bigger! I can’t believe it, seeing her sitting at the “kids” table! She looks like a toddler instead of a baby!

It’s probably harder because Brooke has gotten bigger! That extra weight has to add something.
I’ve been taking some lifting classes and I can’t decide whether or not I prefer lifting on my own or in them – I like the extra motivation, but at the same time I like the sets/rep approach with heavy lifting. Pushups? I do them on my toes, and I think I can pound out about 30 these days. Yes, I am proud of that ;-)

I’m looking forward to getting back into strength training after Richmond! I could probably do 5 or 6 push-ups before falling on my face. And I couldn’t do a pull-up to save my life right now. There was a time when I could crank out those bad boys. That marshmallow & brownie sundae looks AWESOME!

When I first decided to get back into running after having my second child, I pushed a double jogging stroller and it was like two workouts in one! I do pushups every day and most of the time they are on my knees and I can do almost 50 but I can only do about 10 on my toes. I need to work on my upper body strength.

runningwithscissors

There were 39 candles on my last birthday cake.
I am such a weakling when it comes to upper body strength. I can probably do about 10 push-ups and that’s on my knees. I feel like I keep my back straighter/flatter when I do the cheater’s version.
Unfortunately, I don’t do much strength training but when I do I prefer to do it at home alone.

Katlin

I live right smack dab in the middle of the hill country in Austin, tx. These hills alone are a killer than add my DOUBLE BOB with a 40 pound 2 1/2 year old and my 5 month old and I’m pushing over 100lbs. On the occasion when I get to run without them, I feel like I’m flying!

amy

36 candles on my last cake. Almost ready for 37.
Your niece’s hair is getting so long again! Is she going to donate it again?
I dont know how many push ups I can do. Maybe 10 on my toes and more on my knees.
I work out with jillian on my tv. I would love to go to a class but I dont have a gym membership.

Oh and I’ve never had a jogger stroller. Is it possible u were just a bit tired from your pump class and the ragnar from last week?

Allyssa

I ran 99% of my runs with a jogging stroller and a toddler in it over the past years! We don’t use day care on the days I’m not at work so I had no choice but to run WITH him. (well, I guess I could have gotten up at 5am but that’s just not going to happen!). Funny thing is I became dependent on how much stuff I could stash on the stroller and then when I did run alone I was annoyed at having to carry my own water and key, etc.

Steph F.

Happy birthday to Curly! My youngest daughter has asked for brownies the past two years, too :) We make this recipe, which is even more amazing than normal brownies because it has a layer of peanut butter frosting…I have no words to describe how delicious these are!

Also, I just have to thank you for posting that chicken cream cheese chili! I’ve made it almost weekly since the first time you shared it. It’s a huge hit in our family and is in the crock pot as I type :)

My baby boy just turned 5 weeks old, so I can’t actually run with him yet but I take him for a walk everyday in the stroller. Going up hill is no joke…& there are a lot of hills in Central Park. I’m hoping these walks are getting me slightly conditioned for the time when I do start running with him!

I always have to strength train with a class. I don’t know why but I feel so awkward doing it alone! Plus classes push me–there’s no way I could do that kind of stuff for an hour straight by myself. The music helps too! Then I pretend I’m in a movie or something ;)

42 pushups on my toes. No go on the jogging stroller. I did try it once the last time I was babysitting my nephew. Lets just say the front end starting vibrating something awful—so, I stopped. :) As for strength training, I think it depends on my mood. I thoroughly enjoy both. I can be creative when I am on my own, and when I am in a class I can get that additional motivation from others and do the same for them—plus, learn new variations. On my last cake, I had two candles on there—a 2 and an 8 :)

I need to do push ups on my knees because if I try to do them the other way I collapse in a heap. And there’s usually sobbing involved too. :-) On my last bday cake I had just the two musical candles but they sounded a bit like a cat being strangled than the Happy Birthday tune they were supposed to sound like!

I could probably do 10 push-ups at one time, then take a break, and try again for more. 100?!?! No way!!! My upper body strength is lacking :)

When training for the marathon I ran in October, over 90% of my runs were done with my son in the jogging stroller. A jogging stroller run is better than no run! My husband farms and his harvest hours are crazy… fortunately, my son isn’t even a year old yet, so he’s not too heavy! Running with a jogger makes me appreciate runs without the stroller :)

Well, as of this morning I can do 18 in a row, but I do them on my knees. Working my way up! ;) I’d rather strength train on my own, which I do, but with a friend’s plan to help me out. I’m the geek walking around Planet Fitness with a spreadsheet because, let’s face it, I love Excel.

The runners with strollers are amazing. I’ve been passed in many a race by people with even a DOUBLE stroller. Badass!

On my last birthday there were 33 candles – but there will be 34 in one month from tomorrow. And I’m all about the cake. Or let’s face it, the frosting.

Angela

Christina

I just did 20 girlie style to see how many I can do…I normally do yoga down dog and up dog not so much push ups. 37 last bday ice cream…I push a 30 plus pound 2 year old daughter in a cheap jogger I got off Craigslist. I feel like I’m flying when I don’t run with her:) I usually only run 4 to 6 miles with her and she usually falls asleep all about the timing

Jennifer

Maybe 15 on my toes, 30 on my knees. I like to run by myself, but usually take my dogs (shelties) on anything under 6 miles. As soon as my running shoes and headphones come out they get giddy with excitement!
29 candles

I can do 30 without stopping, but I do drop to my knees at some point. I always start on my toes, but as soon as form starts suffering I drop to my knees to maintain good form. I’m actually doing a push up challenge this month and am up to 25.

I do run with a jogger, my 2 1/2 year old does most of my training runs with me, even the longer ones when I’m training for 1/2’s. It’s hard, really hard, but makes running races feel so easy!

I like strength training at home alone, so much better than at the gym or in a class. My Dad is a personal trainer and is really good about giving me stuff I can do at home to help with running and trouble spots.